Former Redskins, Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El regrets playing football

He played nine seasons in the NFL and is a Super Bowl champion. Antwaan Randle El is now 36 years old, but if he had to do it all over again, the former Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver said he would not play football.

“If I could go back, I wouldn’t,” he said. “I would play baseball. I got drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round, but I didn’t play baseball because of my parents. They made me go to school. Don’t get me wrong, I love the game of football. But, right now, I could still be playing baseball.”

Randle El said that he is already feeling the physical effects of his football career. He now has trouble walking up and down the stairs and has trouble with his memory.

“I ask my wife things over and over again, and she’s like, ‘I just told you that,’ ” Randle El said. “I’ll ask her three times the night before and get up in the morning and forget. Stuff like that. I try to chalk it up as I’m busy, I’m doing a lot, but I have to be on my knees praying about it, asking God to allow me to not have these issues and live a long life. I want to see my kids raised up. I want to see my grandkids.”

After retiring from the NFL after the 2010 season, Randle El has helped found a Christian high school in Ashburn, Virginia, and served as the school’s athletic director.

Even with the huge popularity of the sport, Randle El doesn’t believe player safety will improve.

“Right now,” he said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if football isn’t around in 20, 25 years.”